Heart Worms in Dogs and Cats - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

roadkill439342 · **^ Top** #1 07.25.2007

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Canine heartworms affect dogs throughout the world. These worms scientific name is Dirofilaria immitus. They are common in the hearts and major heart blood vesicles in pet and stray dogs in all 50 American States. The male worms are a few inches in length and female worms about double the size of male worms and cause most of the damage.

The worms are transferred from dog to dog through the bite of an infected mosquito. After a mosquito sucks larval heartworms with blood from an infected dog; it must rest for a period of time before these larva become infective. If that mosquito then bites another dog or the same dog, it transfers these microscopic larva as it bites. Then, during the next few months, these larva migrate through the dogs body arriving at the heart several months later. There they mature into adult worms. Damage to the dog’s heart is due to adult worms and depends on the number of worms present, the worm’s sexes, and the area of the heart in which the worm lodges as well as the length of time the worms are present. Genetic factors present in the dog also govern the severity of the disease.

Heartworm disease is commonest in warmer areas of the world where mosquitoes are active throughout the year. Statistically, male dogs are slightly more prone to the disease than females. Large-breed dogs also suffer more from the disease as do short hair dogs and dogs kept out-of-doors.

The first sign of heartworm disease is often premature aging. Dogs grey prematurely about the muzzle and forelegs. Their activity levels decrease and their coats lack luster. As the disease progresses, a chronic dry cough often begins. This cough is most noticeable at night when the dog is resting or in a sitting position. It is due to fluid accumulation in the lungs and bronchitis. Later, the dog’s tummy (abdomen) assumes a pear-shaped look as the dog’s liver enlarges and fluid accumulates in the abdomen. While these events are occurring, the dog’s heart and pulmonary arteries enlarge due to mechanical obstruction of the worms, inflammation and valvular damage to the heart.

Heartgard (ivermectin) is an extraordinarily effective prevention for heartworm infection. Not only does a single dose of the medicine (delivering approximately 8mcg/kg body weight) kill larval heart worms recently transferred by mosquitoes but it is known to “reach back” several months and kill larva that have not yet reached the heart.

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Summer is MOSQUITO season. Get your pet checked, KEEP your pet on PREVENTATIVE.

Ducks · **^ Top** #2 07.25.2007

Wow... my guinea pigs have been treated with ivermectin for mites... and several years ago, I took a course in llama care and we innoculated the llamas with it, too.

Must be pretty versatile stuff!

Baack · **^ Top** #3 07.25.2007

That picture makes me never want to eat spaghetti again!!!!
Yuck!!!!
Hope my dog doesn't have that?

Kalamity Jane · **^ Top** #4 09.29.2007

know if it's hard to get a dog on regular treatment after years of having none?

I recently took custody of my ex's Cattledog who has never been on heart guard. Now that I'm getting a little money from disability I want to get her started.

I use Ivermectin on my horses and it works really well. Those heart worms look like what came out of them as three month old weanlings when they were delivered to me from the breeder.

KJ

roadkill439342 · **^ Top** #5 10.05.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalamity Jane

know if it's hard to get a dog on regular treatment after years of having none?

I recently took custody of my ex's Cattledog who has never been on heart guard. Now that I'm getting a little money from disability I want to get her started.

I use Ivermectin on my horses and it works really well. Those heart worms look like what came out of them as three month old weanlings when they were delivered to me from the breeder.

KJ

Naturally, if the dog has never been treated with a preventative, it is important to have the dog checked for heart-worm first. This is done by a blod test at your vet's office. Then regular treatment afterward.

Cybergal · **^ Top** #6 10.05.2007

There are a few different types of medications for heartworm prevention for dogs.

But my dogs love the heartguard! It must taste good as they have no problem taking it.

MY two little girls are having an allergy issue with itching right now.
I took them to the VET and she gave them an injection which has settled them down a bit.
They get this every year around this same time...sigh

Roadmedic · **^ Top** #7 10.05.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cybergal

There are a few different types of medications for heartworm prevention for dogs.

But my dogs love the heartguard! It must taste good as they have no problem taking it.

MY two little girls are having an allergy issue with itching right now.
I took them to the VET and she gave them an injection which has settled them down a bit.
They get this every year around this same time...sigh

One of my shephards gets a rash in the middle of summer. He eventually has to go and get a shot. The vet says it is an allergy. I believe it must be the ragweed. It happens when the field across the road gets loaded down with them. Sometimes the drainage ditch on my property gets them too.

Kalamity Jane · **^ Top** #8 11.19.2007

Thanks for the information on heart worms guys...I'm sorry I was so slow finding my way back here...your information is appreciated. I could have looked it up but there is something nice about being able to talk to others about their fur family.

I'm glad to hear she can be treated...I'll make an appointment and have her checked and start using heartguard (Thanks Gal)..

One of my horses gets an itch every summer on the top of her tail and rubs it till it looks like an old broom...I found that spraying a diluted mixture of water and regular Listerine...takes the itch out and her tail survives...

Thanks again,

KJ

myminpins · **^ Top** #9 11.19.2007

Just remember some dogs CANNOT TAKE HEART GUARD. IT WILL KILL THEM!!! Certain breeds are super sensitive to ivermectin and have to take a different preventative such as shelties.

I'm so glad there's NO heartworm here in Nova Scotia. I don't have to give it to my pets. There is also no rabies.

This is one of the few places left that has no heartworm yet.

If you live in the southern states where you don't get a REALLY GOOD FREEZE every year, you should give heartworm protection year round.

roadkill439342 · **^ Top** #10 01.25.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by myminpins

Just remember some dogs CANNOT TAKE HEART GUARD. IT WILL KILL THEM!!! Certain breeds are super sensitive to ivermectin and have to take a different preventative such as shelties.

I'm so glad there's NO heartworm here in Nova Scotia. I don't have to give it to my pets. There is also no rabies.

This is one of the few places left that has no heartworm yet.

If you live in the southern states where you don't get a REALLY GOOD FREEZE every year, you should give heartworm protection year round.

Do you have mosquitos? If so, you can have heartworms. Maybe not like other areas, but you have them. For example: heartworm infestation in West Michigan isn't common, it does happen, just not that common.
Distribution

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Although at one time confined the southern [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , heartworm has now spread to nearly all climates where its [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , the mosquito, is found. Transmission of the parasite from dog to dog occurs in all of the United States (except [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ) and the warmer regions of [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. . The highest infection rates are found within 150 miles of the [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. coast from [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. to [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , and along the [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. and its major [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. .[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. It has also been found in [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ,[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. southern [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ,[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ,[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. the [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ,[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , and [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. .[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

Treatment

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If either a blood test or the onset of symptoms betray the presence of heartworms, treatment is indicated. Treatment is highly efficacious if the disease is diagnosed early in the disease process. Before the worms can be treated, however, the dog must be evaluated for good heart, liver, and kidney function to ensure the animal can survive the treatment. Any insufficiencies in these organs must be dealt with first, before treatment, as the eradication process can be taxing on organ function. Usually the adult worms are killed with an [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. -based compound. The currently recommended compound, [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , is marketed under the brand name [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. . It has a greater efficacy and fewer side effects than previous formulation ([LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , sold as [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ) which makes it a safer alternative for dogs with late-stage infestations.
After treatment, the dog must rest (restricted exercise) for several weeks so as to give its body sufficient time to absorb the dead worms without ill effect. Otherwise, when the dog is under exertion, dead worms may break loose and travel to the lungs, potentially causing [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. and death. According to the American Heartworm Society, use of [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. in dogs infected with heartworms is no longer recommended due to a lack of evidence of clinical benefit, and may be contraindicated. It had previously been recommended for its effects on platelet adhesion and reduction of vascular damage caused by the heartworms.
The course of treatment is not completed until several weeks later when the microfilariae are dealt with in a separate course of treatment. Once heartworm tests come back negative, the treatment is considered a success.
Surgical removal of the adult heartworms is also a treatment that may be indicated, especially in advanced cases with substantial heart involvement.
Long term monthly administration of [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. (but apparently not [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. or [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ) year round for at least three years at the dose normally used for heartworm prevention (see "[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ") also removes most adult heartworms from most dogs. However, this is not the treatment of choice for removal of adult heartworms for two reasons. First, not all dogs are completely cleared of heartworms by this treatment. More importantly, adult heartworms do not begin to die until some 18 months of treatment have elapsed, which is not acceptable under most circumstances. This treatment is normally reserved for dogs that are not likely to tolerate treatment with the harsher, but more effective, melarsomine or instances where the owner cannot afford the more expensive melarsomine treatment.
Some research indicates that monthly preventive use of Ivermectin not only prevents new adult heartworms from developing, but also may kill some adult heartworms within a year of Ivermectin use. Whether these adults are killed by the Ivermectin preventative doses, or just die of old age (they have a limited life span of a few years), or both, is unclear.
From time to time various "[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ," "natural" or "[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. " products are touted as cures or preventives for heartworm disease. However, such products have never been proven effective by rigorous scientific methods, and the claims should be viewed with skepticism.

Prevention

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Prevention of heartworm infection can be obtained through a number of veterinary drugs. Most popular are [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. (sold under the brand name [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ), [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. (Interceptor and Sentinel), and [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. (ProHeart) administered as pills or chewable tablets. These drugs are given monthly during the local mosquito season. Moxidectin is also available in a six-month sustained release injection, [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , administered by veterinarians, but the injectable form of moxidectin was taken off the market in the United States due to safety concerns. ProHeart 6 remains on the market in many other countries including Canada and Japan. Its sister product, [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. is used extensively in Australia and Asia as a 12 month injectable preventative. Moxidectin has been re-released in the United States as part of Advantage Multi™ (imidacloprid + moxidectin) Topical Solution, which utilizes moxidectin for control and prevention of [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , heartworms, [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , as well as [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. to kill adult [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. . [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ([LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. ), on the other hand, is a topical preventive that is likewise administered monthly. Some of these drugs also kill other parasites, including [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. . In addition, selamectin controls [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. , and [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. .
Preventative drugs are highly effective, and when regularly administered will protect more than 99 percent of dogs from infection. Most failures of protection result from irregular and infrequent administration of the drug. However, the monthly preventives all have a reasonable margin for error in their administration such that if a single month's dose is accidentally missed, adequate protection is usually provided so long as the next two monthly doses are administered on schedule.
Cats may be treated with ivermectin (Heartgard for Cats), milbemycin (Interceptor), or the topical selamectin (Revolution for Cats).
Monthly heartworm prevention should be administered beginning within a month of the onset of the local mosquito season and continued for a month after the cessation of local mosquito activity. In warm climates, such as the warm temperate climate along the immediate [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. and in [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. and [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. regions, heartworm prevention must be administered year round. Some authorities recommend year round administration even in colder climates on the theory that mosquito activity may occur during the occasional unseasonable warm spell, but others argue that computer models indicate heartworm transmission is highly unlikely under such circumstances.

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